Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Chief Judicial Magistrate Margao sentenced Majorda resident accused Augustin Carvalho, who was detained by the Maina-Curtorim police in a theft case, to 90 days of simple jail after he entered a guilty plea.
The Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel told the court that the accused wished to enter a guilty plea when the case was called out in the first round on the final hearing date.
The accused was given time to think after the court informed him of the repercussions of entering a guilty plea. Nonetheless, the Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel gave the court the assurance that the accused was aware of the repercussions of entering a guilty plea, including the possibility of jail time and a fine.
The Assistant Legal Aid Defence Counsel denied the accused a chance to think while reassuring the court that the accused had voluntarily chosen to enter a guilty plea.
After being informed of the charge, the accused entered a guilty plea. In his order convicting the accused of the offenses under sections 356 and 379 IPC, Chief Judicial Magistrate Carlo Santana Da Silva said, “The plea of guilt was accepted, as it was voluntarily made and since the Court was satisfied that the accused had understood the consequence of a plea of guilty.”